Pivotal divider for indexing files



Nov. 4, 1941. c. BERGMANN PIVOTAL DIVIDER FOR INDEXING FILES Filed April 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: 1 Gonrad Ber m n BY ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 4, 1941. c. BERGMANN PIVOTAL DIVIDER FOR INDEXING FILES sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 1 1941 l NV EN TOR:

onrad Berymzmw,

BY AITORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 PIVOTAL DIVIDER FOR INDEXING FILES Conrad Bergmann, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Peerless Steel Equipment Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 1, 1941, Serial No. 386,289

4 Claims.

This invention has general reference to indexing files and, more particularly to the receptacl or drawer type wherein pivotal-dividers are used for subdividing the contents into small or any desired number of sections and also holding such dividers inclined to the vertical in order to facilitate inspection or removal of individual papers, cards, and so forth.

The primary object of this invention is to furnish an improved pivotal-divider for index files of the above indicated species that is easily insertable in the associated receptacle or drawer with the minimum of effort, but which is releasable with equal facility for differential location in said receptacle or drawer as desired.

Another object is'to provide a pivotal-divider of th type indicated in the preceding paragraph embodying retaining portions effective to hold said divider firmly in inclined position without any possibility of slumping or planar deflection, while positively providing a definite angular opening whenever a particular folder is touched for inspection or removal.

Afurther object is the provision of a pivotaldivider for indexing receptacles which is applied and removed by sliding-tilting action, in the plane thereof, medially intermediate its limits of pivotal movement.

A still further object is the provision of a pivotal-divider of the above referred to type including structural refinements whereby the usefulness and adjustability of such dividers are greatly improved, with resultant increased speed in filing, and a general lessening of wear.

While the foregoing definitions are indicative in a general way ofthe aims of this invention, other objects, with ancillary advantages, will become apparent from the following detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment thereof, such as shown by the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in all the views, while the concluding claimsmore particularly define the features of novelty over the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken perspective View of a filing cabinet drawer showing the improved pivotaldivider, of this invention, adapted thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section, on the plane II-II of Fig. 3, showing the pivotaldivider in active position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken as indicated by the angled arrows III-III in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view substantially along the lines of Fig. 2, with the pivotal-divider laterally displaced preparatory to removal or incidental to insertion.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to the preceding, with I the pivotal-divider angularly tilted ready for removal or approaching the location when it will automatically snap into active position.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the pivotal-divider and the associated runner or coactive. supporting member; and,

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing a modified construction of the filing receptacle or drawerbottom, which is hereinafter fully explained.

.In describing the form of .this invention .exemplified in the above captioned drawings herewith, specific terms will beemployed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood. the scope of said invention is not. thereby limited; each such term being deemed to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, a fragmentary portion of a filing receptacle or cabinet drawer is comprehensively designated byv the numeral l in Fig. 1, the same including spaced sides 2 with turned over or beaded upper edges 3 of substantially rectangular cross-section; and an integrally formed bottom ,4 having a central lengthwise recess 5. Appropriately secured in the recess 5 is a channel section guide or supporting element 6 having the longitudinal edge portions of the paralleling walls inwardly bent to define opposed angle flanges I which are provided with spaced lateral cut-out or slots 8, for adjustably positioning the pivotal-divider 9, as hereinafter explained.

The pivotal-divider 9 preferably consists of a sufficiently rigid generally rectangular sheet of metal appropriately formed to include upper flanking projections or tabs l0 having the outer angular corners rounded at ll, 12, in addition to similar roundings l3 at the lower corners of said divider. Medially of th lower part of the pivotal-divider 9 is a projection l4 having a central cut-out or vertical slot I5 for freepassage of the conventional card locking rod I6; while the bottom. portion of said projection is retroverted to define tubular sections ll, [8 axially flanking the slotl 5. The tubular section I1, it will be observed is inwardly cut-away or stepped. at [9, relative to the adjoining edge 20 of the projection l4, and it isfitted with a headed pin 2| under the outward influence of a spiralspring 22, intermediate. thev pin head 23 and the edge of the stepped end I 9. It is also to be particularly noted the pin 2i is formed at its inner end with a slight enlargement 24 of a diameter for sliding engagement in the bore of the tubular section II, and coaction with an indentation 25 of said section, functional to limit outward projection of the pin head '23 beyond the pivotal-divider projection adjoining edge 20. The tubular section IS, on the other hand, has its outer end beveled off at 26, conveniently at an angl of forty-five degrees; while the outer corner of the projection 14 adjoining the cut-out I9 is rounded at 21, both for purposes hereafter clarified.

Assuming the parts constructed and arranged as shown and described, it will be readily apparent that when it is desired to change the location of the pivotal-divider 9, for example, the operator simply rocks said divider vertical relative to the web portion of the channel section element 6, receptacle or drawer bottom 4, and pushes same planarly towards the left-hand, from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 4, in opposition to the normal action of the spiral spring 22, it being noticeable at this juncture the width of the vertical slot 15 in said follower is such as to permit such movement with but slight lateral deflection of the lock rod H; or said slot may be widened to the complete avoidance of contact with said rod. It will now be observed from Figs. 4 and 5 that the movement just described forces the head 23 of the pin 2| into abutment with the adjoining vertical wall of the element 6 below the associated angle flange 1, whereas the outer end of the tubular section I8 is well away from its adjoining vertical guide wall so that when the pivotal-divider 9 is rocked upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5, with the rounding 21 serving as the fulcrum for such movement, the bevel end 26 of the section "3 is free to ride upwards and outwardly clear of the inner edge of the adjoining angle flange 1, under the recoil action of the spring 22, whereupon the pivotal-divider 9 can be readily retracted from coaction of its pin 2| with the opposed angle flange I, all as clearly understandable from an examination of Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Obviously to insert or re-insert a pivotal-divider 9, the sequence of movements just described are reversed. In other words, the pivotal-divider 9 is angularly tilted and the pin head 23 pushed below the angle flange 1, with the rounding 21 entered in the desired slot 8,whereupon, by downward pressure, the bevel 26 of the tubularsection l8 slidably coacts with the confronting edge of the adjoining angle flange i and moves said block into the position of Fig. 4; when the spring 22 reactsto project the side edge 28, of the pivotal-divider projection l4, into the registering slot 8 at that side of the element 6. It is also noteworthy that the lower edge of the rounding 21 and the opposed edge portion 28 normally seat in the slots 8, when the pivotal-divider 9 is in active position to prevent said divider from sliding along the top faces of the angle flanges 1, as well as aiding, in conjunction with the tabs 10, to restrain said divider from planar misalignment or deflection inuse. In addition, the rounding 21 and horizontally merging edge of the cut-out 19 with the edge 28 and adjacent portion of the pivotal-divider 9 serve to limit the angular movement of such divider, as conventionally indicated by the full and dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3, with the tubular sections l'l, I8 acting as the fulcrum bypivotal engagement below the angle flanges 1.

Instead of using the, supporting element 6 adapted to the receptacle or drawer bottom recess 5, the bottom 4 may have flange portions formed integral therewith by retroversion of the sheet metal to define inwardly directed angle flanges 29, as shown in Fig. 7, with the spaced slots 8' formed in said flanges, in a manner well understandable by those conversant with the art.

From the foregoing the merits and advantages of this invention will be clearly apparent without further elaboration herein, also that modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit of said invention; for instance, the pivotal-divider Sand supporting element 6 are producible as readily standardized components, adapted for easy application in conventional filing receptacles, trays, or cabinet drawers without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a filing receptacle or drawer including a bottom having a lengthwise recess centrally thereof, and with inwardly turned flanges including, spaced opposing slots, of a pivotal-divider having a medial projection with the side portions 'engageable in the flange opposing slots, aligned tubular sections along the lower portion of said projection, the outer portion of one of said tubular sections being slidable into engagement below the adjoining slotted flange, outwardly influenced means including a spring influenced headed pin in the other tubular section similarly coactive below the opposing slotted flange, and means respectively incorporated in the last mentioned tubular section, and the headed pin, jointly limiting outward movement of the latter.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the one tubular section of said medial projection has the outer end beveled inwards preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees, the otheraligned tubular section has the outer portion inwardly stepped relative to the adjoining vertical edge of the medial projection, and said vertical edge has its lower outer portion rounded inwards to provide a fulcrum when inserting or removing the pivotal-divider from the supporting element.

3. A pivotal-divider for filing receptacles or drawers, in combination with means for pivotally supporting the same, said divider comprising a generally rectangular plate embodying a medial projection from the-lower portion thereof having the flanking lower parts formed as axially aligned tubular sections, one of said sections having the outer extremity inwardly beveled preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees, the other of said sections being inwardly cut away relative to the adjoining side edge of theplatemedial projection, a fulcrum rounding at the lower outer corner of said side edge, a spring-influenced pin in the last mentioned tubular section having-a head at the outer end and an enlargement at the inner end for sliding movement in said section,

and an indentation in the last mentioned tubular ooNRhDBERGMANN. 

